Maximized spell, then rolls a crit

[dagger]

Let's say a wizard casts a maximized Orb of Force, but then rolls a critical on the attack, how would this be handled?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Well, when you successfully make a critical hit, you roll the damage twice.

Therefore, the initial damage is maximized, at least. The question is whether or not the second roll for damage is also maximized.

I suspect that the rules say that it is not, and someone will probably point to the interaction between the Maximize and Empower metamagic feats. That being said, I never understood that particular ruling.

So, in my campaigns, at least, a maximized critical does (Max x 2) damage.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've never really thought about it before, and just automatically maximised both the normal roll and the critical hit extra damage too.

Patryn's point about the interaction between empower and maximise is interesting though, I wonder how WotC designers do it?

I'll probably still just double the maximum (maximised scorching ray crit doing 48), but if a maximised empowered spell got a crit I'd roll the empowered bit twice so an empowered maximised scorching ray that scored a crit IMC would do 48+4d6 (instead of 24+2d6)

Interesting question though.

Regards

 

[Stalker0]

I would rule it like this:

When you crit with a weapon, you roll your damage again...however, you still apply all the damage modifiers you applied on the first roll.

Therefore, for a spell I would apply all the "modifiers" including the maximised part.

 

[El Mono Digo]

Perhaps, but the general leaning for similar situations such as empowered maximized spells is that the extra damage is rolled normally then added. This would seem to be a similar enough situation that the same rule would apply.

 

[Stalker0]

Perhaps, but the general leaning for similar situations such as empowered maximized spells is that the extra damage is rolled normally then added. This would seem to be a similar enough situation that the same rule would apply.

I would say the situation is very different. Empower and Maximise together is a case of two completely different modifiers on the same dice. They ruled it that way not because it was "broken" but because of the fact that empower was getting an unintended boost in its power through maximising.

In this case, its still the one modifier, its just that the spell got to do more damage this time.

 

[RigaMortus]

Well Maximize Spell automatically deals the maximum amount of damage the spell can deal. If the spell crits, the maximum amount of damage the spell can deal is also doubled.

 

[dagger]

Right now I am leaning towards maxing the first part and rolling the crit damage. I might only do this on an instant type metamagic, versus normal metamagic.

 

[Orm]

An empowered, maximized spell gains the separate benefits of each feat: the maximum result plus one-half the normally
rolled result.

OK, it´s not exactly the same, but maybe this helps. The maximised part is only applied to the normal damage roll, the the critical damage is rolled normally.

Orm

 

[Jdvn1]

What about maximized, empowerd, on a crit?